 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
DMV Satellite Offices Could Close
All department budgets may have to be reduced by 30 percent. If that happens,1,200 county employees could lose their jobs in less than a month.
The Alabama Supreme Court declared the existing occupational tax unconstitutional because of an exemption for professionals. Since members of the House and Senate couldn't pass a new version of the tax bill this session, county offices may now take a major hit. For example, the DMV may have to close all four of it's satellite offices as soon as next week. They're located in Gardendale, Forestdale, Center Point and Homewood. If this happens, county residents would have to either go to the downtown Birmingham or the Bessemer location. Many people are calling this potential change a 'big mess.' Residents say, right now, the wait time at the satellite office in Homewood is a minimum of 40 minutes.
"Always backed up. You're always standing in a long line and everybody is alway taking breaks," says Joy Brooks, Hoover resident.
If everyone is forced to go to two locations, many residents say they're confident the trip would take hours. Not to mention traffic or trying to find a parking spot.
"Stand in line practically all day," says Josephine Ham, Birmingham resident.
"Maybe a half a day just to get a license or get a tag or fishing license, anything," says Damon Thompson, Homewood resident.
"It's kind of ridiculous really. It's already busy in there right now. It would be crazy," says Bobby Smith, Homewood resident.
"If it's made more inconvenient there will be less people able to renew notices and make it impossible for some people," says Sharon Hirschfield, Mountain Brook resident.
Jefferson County Commissioner, Bobby Humphryes, says closing the satellite offices will be a huge inconvenience. And he warns residents, losing the occupational tax will hurt more than just the Department of Motor Vehicles.
"It's going to be bad all around and I've said before down here we're not crying wolf. This is a serious problem," says Humphryes.
read more stories in Local News
ABC 33/40 Talkback - Story Comments
Not a member yet? Click Here to sign up.
Please leave your comments below:
Messages that harass, abuse or threaten other members; have obscene or otherwise objectionable content; have spam, commercial or
advertising content or inappropriate links may be removed and may result in the loss of your posting privileges. Please do not post any
private information unless you want it to be available publicly. Never assume that you are completely anonymous and cannot be identified by your posts.
More News and Videos
© 2009 TV Alabama, Inc.
The Associated Press may have contributed to this article.
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
ABC 33/40 News to leave comments on news stories.